Radiator.



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GEDRGE DE FVRE AND JAMES E. WOODBB/IDGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS T0' THE A-Z COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YURK.

RADIAT OR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten rei. e, ieri'.

Application filedv April 21, 1909. Serial No. 491,301.

iNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Radiators, of which the following is a description.

This invention relates to coolers or radia tors for internal combustion engines, or to be used in connection with internal combustion engines, automobiles, flying-machines, locomotive engines of all kinds, and for condensing wet-steam at low'pressure, and has specitil reference to the structure of the tubing,l the combination of the tube-sections thereof, and also to the process for producing the tubing and the radiator.

Among the objects of our invention may be noted the following: To provide a radiator which will be simple in construction, quickly constructed, made of separable parts, quickly and easily repaired, strong, and of long life; to provide a form of honeycomb tubing by means of whicha greater radiating surface and free circulation of the water between the tubes are secured; to provide a practical and economical process or mode of constructing the radiator and the tubing thereof; and to provide av sheet-structure which, when sections thereof 'are put together, will quickly produce the form of tubing desired and facilitate the construction of the radiator.

lVith the above objects in view, and others which will be detailed during the course of this description, our invention consists in the parts, features, elements, and cou'ibinations of elements constituting the radiatorI or condenser, and the blank for the tubing, and also in the mode of producing the latter and the radiator, all as hereinafter' described and claimed.

In order that our invention may be clearly understood, the accompanying drawings are provided in which:

Figure l represents, in front eleva-tion the radiator embodying our invention; Fig. 2. is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the blank from which the tubing is made; Fig. 4 is a Vertical crosssection of a group of tubes made according to our invention and showing the separating strips or partitions; Fig. 5 is a cross-section of a group of tubes showing the water-channels and recesses between the tubes; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a tube showing another mode of flaring the end thereof for spacing purposes; Fig. S is a longitudinal vertical section, broken in the middle, showing a tube section made of a single piece of sheet material; Fig. 9 is a transverse section of a single tube made of a single piece of material.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l indicates the frame, which may be made of any suitable outline or design, but shown as rectangular; 2 the cover of the frame; and 3 the base of the frame, lVithin the bodyportion l, the tubes, generally indicated by 4:, may be set either vertically or horizontally, as may be desired, or according to the type of the condenser or radiator 4to be con structed.

The material of which the tubing is formed is preferably thin sheet-copper, though brass and other metals may be employed and, according to our invention, the tubing is made up from sheet material of any suitable width, though ordinarily from two to tive inches wide. The sheet material is crimped' or folded periodically so as to produce the equi-distant ribs 5, extending transversely thereoi and the flat walls, or webs, 6, between said ribs, the crimping operation doubliiig the material upon itself so as to superpose two portions thereof, but leaving a narrow recess or space 7 between the same so that the inner edges of the ribs will be closed and rounded as at S, while at the outer edges, or at the juncture thereof with the webs G, there will be an opening 9. Fach rib, at predetermined distances, is tightly compressed so as to produce the coniparatively solid portion of the rib 10, the compression closing the space between the superposed portions, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. This structural feature is produced at predetermined points in each rib, usually at the ends and at one or more intermediate points. The crimped blank is run out in indefinite lengths from the sheet material and `then sections cut therefrom transversely between the ribs 5, and the web or body poi'- tions 6, of one section, is usually turned over so to produce the flange parallel with the ribs as indicated by 11, Itigs. 3 to Iat the opposite ends of the section; while another section is provided with a recurved portion 12, at its opposite ends, each producing a pocket for the reception of a flange 11 ot the complemental section. lTwo sections ol.' the crimped material thus produced and of the same length are then placed together, one upon the other, with the ribs 5, of the section alternatingwith each other and the outer edges 8 of the ribs resting against opposite web or flat portions 6, of the coinpleniental sections. This produces the rectangular or square tube-structure and effect. illustrated in Fig. 4. lu order to tightly lock and join the sections together, the. tianges 11 at the opposite ends of one section, are entered into the pocket :formed by the recurved portion 12, at the opposite ends ot the complevmental section, this interlocking structure making a close, frictional lit vvery quickly producen in assembling. The recurved portion is usually iliade close to one of the ribs which gives strength to the article at the joint. The sections, when thus joined and the flanges interlocked, as shown in Fig. 4, are then tirn'ily soldered together so as to make a permanent square-tube-section, a number of which are joined together to form the radiator'. the Solder 13 being the joining medium. The tube-sections thus placed together in the desired number have set between them, at trout and back, the strips or spacing-bars 14, which are interposed in oi'- der to separate the adjacent tube-sections and forni the water-sjnices or channels 15, through which the water trickles and freely passes for cooling purposes. l'v'hen arranged as shown, the spacing-bars and tube sections are soldered together at the 'front and trick, as indicated by 16 so as to make a. substantially solid surface which prevents the passage of fiuid between the tube-sections .at front and back and contines the water -tions which communicate with the recesses 7, at the opposed sides of the ribs or partitions aiid thus comes into Contact with a greater cooling, radiating or condensing surface of the tubing and, in fact, passes in between the two superposed walls of the ribs 5 ot the tubes. Thus, the radiator is capable of carrying ott' a maximum amount of heat, the fluid is notretarded in its flow and is quickly cooled or condensed, and it will be seen that fluid, liowing in from the space in the cover 2 will pass down between the tiers ot' tubes and into and out of the recesses and chaii'ibers with considerable force, thus creating in the large spaces at the opposite ribs and lateral channels, a miniature whirlpool, which will cause a considerable agitation of liquid in its passage from top to bottom of the structure. rlhis agitationr` obviously, is a cooling process for, and results inlowering the temperature thereof and abstracting a greater volume of heat from, the radiating surface ofthe tubes.

Instead of using the spacing-bars, or strips at opposite ends of the tubes, the ends of the base-portions (i, between the ribs, can

-be flared or bulgedsubstantially iii a semicircle as indicated at 1S. in Fig` 5, or the llare or bulge can be made substantially angular as at 19, Fig. 7. the result being that, when the niade-up tubular sections are set together, the 'flared portions will abut and cooperate to hold the intern'iediate body-portions separated so as to pioluce the waterpassage or channel 15, as in the structure ot' Figs. 4 and 4(i.

Instead of making the tube-sections from two sheet-sections, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and (3, said tube-sections may be made from a single sheet-section, Fig. S, with the same form of joint 1l--12, as in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. ln Fig. 8, the tube-section is made of a single sheet-section, folded upon itself so as to produce a reinforced side portion 2() of three superposed thicknesses ot' material and bring the ribs 5 o'f the opposed portions Q1 and 22 of the saine sheet-section into alternation, as in theother forms.

ln all the forms of our invention, so far described, the radiator or condenser is made up of tube-sections ha ving the width necessary for a tier extending from side to side or from top to bottom of the -frame 1. irrespective of the size of the latter, and this whether the tube-sections be formed from one or two sheet-sections, but. it should be distinctly understood that our invention is not restricted to this idea of means, because we contemplate forming the structure from tube-units consisting of one, two or more tube.' as desired. rl`o illustrate this,` Fig. t) shows a single tube 2G made from a single sheet-section, the side reinforce 20 and sidejoint 11i-12 being the same as in Fig. 8..

The smaller the number of tubes in a given tube-unit, the greater the facility in repairing the same; but, we desire to lay stress upon the important factor of our invention just mentioned', viz., that our structure is composed of tube-units formed into one or more tubes, as desired, and that such tubeunit is formed from one or more crimped sheet-sections, these sheet-sections, tube-units and composite structure being produced in accordance with the method or process which has been generally outlined, but which will be presently definitely stated.

In all the forms of our invention, the solid or web portions l() are arranged at opposite ends of the tube-sections, which give strength and solidity to the outer surfaces; and if such solid portions occur', as they do in a five-inch long tube, at points intermediate the ends, they add stability to the partitions 'or walls of the tubes, it being understood that these Web-portions are primarily intended for the opposite ends of the tubes and are tightly closed, and also have the function of preventing the solder from penetrating the space between the superposed portions 'of the walls or ribs, and have the further function of creating a back-stop,- so to speak,-to the flow of the solder within the tubes, since the shoulders 10, operate Le hold the solder and prevent it from running irte the tubing until it becomes set.

In all forms of our invention, as illustrated in the drawings, it will be seen that the grouping of the tube-units or tube-sections is the same and that each tube-unit or tube-section is made up of one or more strips or sheets of material crimped as described and having the reinforced sides or secured together at their sides or ends by an interlocking joint, which is subsequently soldered to prevent the sections from slipping apart and giving rigidity to the structure. Will also be seen that each'unit or section thus made is exceedingly flexible and can be handled, bent and manipulated without Vany danger of the sections becoming disjointed or disturbing the form of the tubes, the tube-sections, in fact, being elastic or resilient, since the ribs of the respective crimpedl sections can slide relatively to each other when the tube-sections are flexed or bent. This makes a peculiarly strong and durable construction, since jars and constant jolting of the car can, in no manner, disturb or fracture the walls of the tubing.

In the several forms of our inventions it will also be observed that the Same method is carried out in producing the crimped another portion or section of the crimped material with the crimps or ribs of the respective sections spaced apart or. alternating with each other and the sides interlocking or reinforced; fourth, soldering or securing the interlocked or reinforced sides of the sections -of crimped material, these several steps producing'a tube-unit or tube-section. The further additional steps produce the honeycomb` structure and complete the radiator, the same being: fifth, setting in juxtaposition a plurality of tube-units or tubesections; and, sixth, soldering or securing the ends of the tubes together so as to produce a compact and solid st-ructure.

From the foregoing' description, it will be seen that we first produce a sheet of crimped material, of indefinite length, having certain structural and characteristic features which are novel and which make an article of manufacture embodying one of the important features of our invention. We then produce, from the crimped material, a novel tube-unit or tube-section constituting an article of manufacture embodying additional important features of our invention. And we then produce, from the units or tube-sections, a novel radiator or condenser having other important features of our invention. Upon all ythese articles of manufacture, viz., the blank, the tube and the radiator or condenser and the method of producing the same, we desire to lay stress, beca use we believe ourselves to be the first to produce a radiator in the manner and according to the mode described and, in consequence, purpose claiming the same in the broadest possible manner.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a radiator, a unit formed of a strip of metal having plaits therein, said strip being folded intermediate its ends to form a box-like structure and to bring the plaits between the side walls thereof, said plaits extending entirely across the space between said side walls to support both of the same against collapse and vibration, one end of said strip being bent to form a plurality of open plaits as a terminal thereof and the open side of the terminal plait being faced toward the other end of said strip, said latter end being bent at an angle and yextended into said open terminal plaitto forman interlocking joint. i

2. In a radiator. a unit formed of a strip of metal having a` plurality of slmced-ajm-rt, hollow plaits formed therein, said strip being folded intermediate its ends to form a hollow structureand to bring the plaits between the sidewalls thereof, said plaits extending entirely across the space between said side walls to support both of the same against. collapse nndw'bration, one end of signed our names in the presence of two snd Hl'i'ip boing bont to form :1 plmnhty of subscrlblng wltnesses.

y i z ullnnzl llwl'oof and the lileltfdthol tiolnnnl pl-1it bein(y 'f-wod GEO' DE FEVRE' l f A AMF@ F. DBRIDGE.

toward the other und of Saul stllp, Saud lat- J J" j XX OO tcl' end bolug bont :n :1n anglo and extend.- Wltnesses: ed Int() snld open tmlnlnal plzut. M. F. MCGRATH,

In tcslnnony whereo we have hereunto H. F. BROWN. 

